Eyes deeper than the ocean

Chapter 9

I had always hated rain, while Annora loved it to the core of her heart. She was like a human version of a peacock. The moment it started drizzling she would drag everyone and anyone into the falling pee of god and dance under it. And Sam knew that very well about her, and that was the reason he had got up and gave me 'I know you are lying you dipshit' smile and walked out.

The moment it had started raining at the beach, I groaned. She got up and started jumping around. There were not much people around and it wouldn't have made a difference really, but I just sat there and watched her. She laughed and stuck her tongue out; trying to taste rain like it was chocolate fountain or something. I laughed as she pulled me up and started jumping around me. I looked at her again, she was so cute. The way her hair bounced off of her shoulders now and then and how she shook her head like a mad woman. Some people don't change, I guess.

It was still raining when I had managed to drag her to the bike. It roared to life as I started it. I had to be careful with my balance because behind me the very crazy girl was 'Feeling the rain' as she put it. She was almost standing and I had to take care of both of us because she couldn't do it herself.

After sometime she sat, normally and put her arms around my waist. I stiffened at this gesture as it surprised me for a second. Her head was resting on my back and I stopped at this cottage themed place. There was a 'Breakfast' board hanging on it, so I guessed there would be food available. I looked at my watch and it was already eight.

"You hungry?" I asked.

I could feel her nodding and I smiled. I pulled over and knocked on the door.

A woman, just a bit older than my mother opened the door. She had her hair wrapped up in a bandana. She smiled warmly.

"Come in."

I nodded and before I could move Annora grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.

I looked at her silently questioning her. She shook her head.

"Annora?" the woman called out.

Annora groaned and then snapped. "What?"

"Oh god, Dear..." the woman came forward.

I took a defensive step forward covering Nora behind me.

The woman backed, frowning. I bit my lip and turned to look at Nora. She looked so angry; I was scared she would just burst out at any moment. I cupped her face in my hands and asked her "What's wrong, Nora?" she shook her head. "Do you want to leave?"

"Please... let me explain. Annora, just hear me out. Just this once." I looked at the woman pleading.

Nora shook her head again and looked at the woman. "I don't wanna hear how it felt like manipulating my dad cheat on all of his family and" she paused. "Just fuck off" with that she left the place and sat on the bike.

I was about to follow her out when the woman stopped me.

"Please..." there was desperation in her eyes as she uttered the six letter word. I felt bad.

And without saying a word I walked towards Nora who was sobbing, out of the cottage.

-

I took another sip of the hot coffee which felt like heaven on my taste buds.

"So you are saying that you guys weren't about to have a snogging session." Nora looked at Helen, the woman at the cottage food place, who was explaining to my girl that her dad hadn't cheated on her mother. And the coffee here was good. I was totally bringing my squad here.

After my stupid brain had melted at the thought of a woman older than mother had pleaded to talk to a person to explain things... I thought I'd just talk to Nora and calm her down. Olivia could have made her agree to talking to Helen in just seconds, while I took more than fifteen minutes of standing and then hearing her cry and seeing her in agony saying how she had felt when she found out that her mother was crying and all that.

And finally I was here, with a calm Nora sitting beside me, listening to Helen.

Helen had been friends with Nora's father for a while since they had been planning a great surprise for Jane (Nora's mum) for their anniversary. But something happened and her father came in drunk one night, too drunk to drive so Helen drove him home. Fetched keys from his pockets and just placed him on his bed when the family had walked in on them.

I didn't see how anyone could have mistaken anything really. But if I looked through Jane's perspective then seeing your husband on bed drunk muttering some random shit and also with a woman with him could have ignited a shock.

And this could have been solved if Jane had opened her mouth about it, but she didn't. She kept it and cried every single day. And, I am guessing the husband had no memory of what had happened and just saw how the relationship with his wife was going down as she picked numerous fights with him for no reason. Avoided him most of the time and never spoke to him. There was crisis that had been raised due to lack of communication.

I sighed. "Can I have more coffee?"

"Of course, dear." Helen chimed and poured me some coffee. "I have some chocolate chip cookies."

"Please." I urged her. She disappeared into her house and I looked over at Annora. She had tears in her eyes. I placed my cup on the table and moved closer to her. She slowly hugged me.

"I need to fix this." She mumbled into my chest.

"Yeah... I know"

-

After we had cookies and a lot of food, which we got for free, by the way, we left. Helen hugged Annora and smiled at me. She mouthed a 'thank you' and even packed some more cookies for us.

I gladly accepted it with a grin on my face.

We took off. I hadn't realised the fact that this was the town where Annora had moved to eight years ago, until she mentioned it.

"I used to hang out at the beach a lot." She said.

I nodded. Even if I spoke she wouldn't be able to understand as I was riding the bike. So I let her speak.

"I want to speak with my dad, Ethan"

"Now?" I asked, literally shouting so that she could hear.

"Yes!" she said.

I pulled over to the side.

"Why? I think we should change, get some rest and then meet him."

"No. We won't be able to get out. And I don't want everyone to know..." Nora said. "I mean, I'm fine with you and Sam knowing. It was always the three of us, and now even Avery"

I nodded. If she wanted to keep her life private and personal, she had all the rights to. I mean it was her life, so she could do whatever she wanted with it.

And, we took off to her house...

-

"So? She met her dad?!" Avery asked. "And...? What did she say?"

"I'm really hungry" I said. "And, I need to pee."

I got up and walked to my room. After I used the washroom and let the water that was inside me free, leaving my body into a state of satisfaction, I walked to the same room I was sitting with Avery.

"Sam?" I asked when I saw Sam pacing around in his room with Avery not seen anywhere.

"Annora had told me that this was her town and all that shit before she told you" he said. "But, that's not the problem."

"What is going on? Where is Ave?" I asked, running my hands through my hair.

"Everyone, actually." He corrected.

"What?"

"Annora" he said looking straight at me. "She is gone."

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